Roof glazing



July 22 1952 J. R. EsTEY 2,604,061

R001-1 GLAZING Filed Aug. 9. 1948 $5 w. we

zo 32 e) QOH M@ Fig@ "other -duringlnstallation y Patented July 22,'y 1952 Boor GLAZING JamesRoyden Estoy, South Pasadena, Calif., as-

fsignor to Aluminex Incorporated,LosxAngeles, .vfCalif., a corporation of California 4Application August 9, 1948, Serial No.'43,269

f My invention. relates to glazing andmore Apar- "fticularly to ai-type of double'glazing involving thefuse of two panes of glass,` the inter-pane4 space being effectivelyusealed. The inventionvwill.-.be

particularly exemplifiedl as .applied to roof glaz-L ingyalthough it is applicable to--other-types of glazingqaswill be levident tol.thoselskilledl inthe 1 a'rt.f

' The sealing of-i ian linter-pane space-fhas'zpresentedyseriousf'eproblems. i .Attempts :havelbeen '--niade to-I seal ltv'vo panes oi=- glass. .individually to @the frame Ain 4vwhich-they*areset. This-typefof i -glazinghas not-been .wholly satisfactory, one rea- -sonbei ng that vheat willfexpand diierentially the glass'and the trama-tending -to permit entryinto the inter-pane space ofdust or .moisturaz, .More

Vrecently; it has beenproposed-toseal .the interlipa'nefspaceby a glass-to-glass bond. "This-.pro-

vides an effective sealbut-offersdifiicultiesfin *manufacturing and transportation, resulting in *exceptionally vhighcost.' I. In- I addition, breakage -lof; one oi thepanes requiresv replacement.; of. .the `A`IAVentirefisealedunit. f VI '--It an object' of the` .'.iziresentev invention to f-proiide a method and-apparatus for.: doubletglaz-vA i 'ngin which the two -pa'nes "of glass'v Vcan bei eff ecivlyand permanentlysealed relative.` to .Leach Anotherobject'` ofthe `.invention is Yto..'provide a" glazing structure inwhich the inter-panespace.- issealedhby aV resilient-ffsealing membehwh-ich preferably extends completely aroundthepe riphery of the inter-pane space. l-

VLA- furtherfobject isto-provide an arrangement whereby the Y*means* for mounting the-panes Alivill. apply a' pressure utendingto' compress' theresilient 'sealing member.

It -is very desirable that the-.two panes'ofglass "vibe spaced al denitedistance#fromizdachl--other and. that this Adistance should notfbe determined merely by thecompressive force applied to com- 4press the-resilienty sealing'member.- It is-a-n-ob- "f jectroi the present invention toproyide-such definite -spacing.' In Athis Aconnection;-thefiriiven i' tion.` includes among its objffts the provision-v *'o'fa* spacing "member serving' 4the' dual function of Vminimizing the distance' between-the panes 'and` also kpositioning theresilient sealing -member.

' A furtherobjectrofithe invention iste-employ "ya pluralityof such spacing members disposed near lQbutwithin the peripheral boundariesof the glass sojsthat one or more;A sealing members can be wrapped in, contact with; the ASumming members.

y:If two 'sealing'members are employed; tdfefectv 17 claims. (Chios-11s) a-doubleseaL one can vbe wrappedoutside .the

spacing members and theother wrapped'inside f thespacing. members. `Such `spacing .members preferably provide ends abutting adjacent :and between `the ends of a spacing member. If two sealing-members `are employed, the respective Mpoints of abutment are preferably displaced pe- `ripherally from each other.. The 'provision of a 51 structure with such relationships is included'in the. objects ofthe invention.

.A'iurther object is to provide a novelattachmentfwherebythe spacing. members can beremovably connected to the edge. portion'ofoneo-f the two. panes of glass.` It is another vobject to provide a .crestoneach spacing member to-en- =gage .thejother pane ofglass when the sealing .member vhas been properly compressed.

..Another object is to provide a glazing struc- '.ture in which. a sealing member can .be easily positioned .by and adhered to suitable clips.v or .spacing members.

Further. objects and advantages of 1 the linveny.tion will be. evident to those Askilled in the.,A art .u fromthe following description of exemplary ern- -bodiments, illustrated as .applied to roofrglazing .-1 and; which Will ,suggest to thoseskilled in the-art other .applications of the invention. A

"Referring/to the drawings: f'

.Fig 1 isa vertical sectionalview of the inventionas applied toa skylight;

-1Fig. 2. is .a transverse .sectional vview. taken along. the line. 2-'-2 of. Fig. 1 and showingthe .double-glazed unit ofY Fig. 1 in addition tofthe adjacent ends of two other double-glazed units;

Fig. 3 .illustrates one corner of a double-glazed Y unit with the top pane removed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken v on the line 4-'l of Fig. 3, showing the doubleglazed unit `before the upper pane. is inplace;

and

. Fig. 5 is asectional View similar. to- Fig. 4 showing an alternative construction.

l .Referringparticularly to Fig. 1,..the numeral 6 indicatesal sloping roofline, there being a-skylight, indicated generally by the numeral` 1,

installed abovethe roof Wooden supports 8 and nfl-.farei illustrated vas supportingthe skylightfbut it should be` understood that any conventional'sup- 'port' vcan be employed without departingl from `.the spirit oftheinvention, f

. .Manyadvantages accrue vfrom using, asapart l fofrithe.-skylightesupporting means, a -plural-ityLof j spaced. glazing. bars.: I extending between the v- YAsupportsB-and in spaced relationship to support '.t'hedouble-glazed' unit ofthe invention, indicated generally by the numeral I I, and comprising upper and lower panes of glass I2 and I3 spaced from each other to define an inter-pane space I4.

Each glazing bar I is shown as including a web I6 having an upper' portion I1 terminating in a bead or head I8 and having a lower portion I9 terminating'in. a base portion 20 having one or more longitudinal abutments or ribs 2| extending upwardly therefrom. Each rib 2I forms, with vthe lower portion I9 of the web I6, a drainage channel 22 and terminates in a glass-supporting' edge23. Extending upwardly from the base por.-

tion beyond the rib 2i is a protective rib or flange 24 cooperating therewith in deninga drainage channel 25. The glazing bar IIJ is a girder-like member and additional strength Ymay be imparted by longitudinal enlargements 26 protruding from the web I6. At least one of such enlargements is positioned above the upper pane I2 and comprises an abutment 21 having a downwardly-facing groove 28 for a purpose to be later described. Each glazing bar I0 is preferably an aluminum alloy extrusion', cut to appropriate length.

To hold the glazing bar I0 in position, shoes 36, in bracket-like form, are secured to the supports 8 and 9 by any suitable means suchas by screws 3l passing through legs 32 ofthe shoes. VEach shoe includes two diverging arms 33 with inward projections 34, these arms encompassing and retaining the flanges 24 of the glazing bar when this bar is slid longitudinally into the shoes 30 respectively mounted on the supports 3' andA 9. Each of the lowermost shoes 3D is also adapted to receive a glass stop 35, best shown in Figs. ll

and 2. This glass stop is essentially L-shaped to provide a base portion 36 and an upturned end portion 31 which extends across the lowermost end of the double-glazed unit I I. The lowermost edges of the panes I2 and I3 abut againstthe upturned end portion 31 to retain the unit yII against downward movement. The base portion 36 of each stop 35 provides enlarged beads`38,

- best shown in Fig. .2, and is notched at its sides i to receive the arms 33 of the shoe 30 and vto interlock with the shoe. This interlocking arrangement is not per se a part'of the present invention, interlocking structures of this type being shown in the patent to Jack Williams No. 2,178,507 to vwhich reference is made for a more detailed description. Suffice it to say, that the shoe 36 can be moved downwardly between the arms v33 and interlocked therewith against movement longitudinally of the glazing bar, after Whichthe glazing bar can be slid into place; the base por- Y surface of the upper pane I2.

side walls 42 and 43 snugly but removably engage the upper and lower surfaces of the pane I3. The lower side wall 43 preferably extends inwardly of the pane beyond the glass-supporting edge 23 to be engaged by this edge, thus eliminating direct engagement between the rib 2| and the glass and providing additional insurance against L breakage offthe glass. f f

' This form of spacingmember 4!)` provides a spacing portion 45 traversing the inter-pane space 1 I4 by extending from the inner face of one pane toward the inner face of the other. This support portion should be relatively rigid and preferably should extend from or be bent from the upper sidewall 424 near and preferably substantially opposite the glass-supporting edge 23 of the rib 2|.r The far end of the spacing portion 45 provides a crest 41 for engagement with the inner This crest may comprise a bent portion 48 of the spacing portion 45, .being preferably `a rolled portion extending v.toward the centerof the inter-pane space I4, as

suggested in Fig. 2. Alternatively, vthe bent portion 48 can extend outwardly relative to the interpane space I4, as suggested in Fig. 5.

Each spacing member is preferably of a length slightly less than the edge v'portion of the pane I3 to which it is clipped. The spacing members `can be cut to length en the job or in a factory.v The invention contemplates that at leastvtwo such spacingmembers shall be employed, extending respectively along those edges of the pane which are. supported by the ribs 2|. However, it is distinctly preferable to use V one spacing member 40 for each peripheral edge of the pane, as illustrated in Figs.. 2 and 3, andto cut these spacing members to such length that .they enclose the inter-pane space except in corner portions 49, best shown r in Fig. 3. It

should be understood, however, that,a plurality of shorter spacing members can be clipped V.to

, the pane along each or any peripheral edgewithtion 36 lying immediately beneath the baseV por- Y tion 20 'of the glazing bar l0. The invention includes a relatively rigid spacing means, preferably in the form of a plurality of spacing members 40 traversing the inter-pane space I4 and including a detachable means for securing the spacing members to one of the panes of glass, preferably the lower pane I3. The latter means preferably clips over a peripheral edge of the lower pane I3.

In the preferred arrangement, each spacing member 40 is formed from sheet material, preferablyan aluminum alloy, although it can be an extruded section. If bent from sheet material, each spacing member provides a generally U- shaped clip portion 4I including upper and lower side walls 42 and 43 spaced by an end Wall 44 to receive an edge portion of the lower pane I3 in a manner best shown in Fig. 2.. The end wall 44 lies along an end face of the pane I3 and the.

out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the preferred arrangement, Vthe spacing' portions 45. extend directly across the interpane space I4 at .positions space dinwardly from the peripheral edgeof the pane to which they Yare connected. By this arrangement there provided, between/the spacing members and the corresponding peripheral edges of the pane, a plurality of peripheral spaces 50 adapted to receive a resilient sealing member 52 of lthe Y a position intermediate the ends. of Yone Yof the spacing members 40, as suggested in FiglS." In effect, the sealing member is wrapped around the spacing members 404 and assumes a'natural curve inthe corner portions 49, as suggested in Fig. 3. L

It is preferable to adhere the resilient sealing member 52 to the spacing members 40 Tas this A facilitates installationV and insures that the `ends 53 and 54 can lle-in abutting relat'oIlSllip'.v An

' adhesive lcan be presenton ,one kor thefother or both of these membersl. The preferredarrange- .ingapair of panes'of glass in spaced-relationship .to provide a sealed inter-pane space; aplurality .of spacing members. comprising clip-'portions receiving and attached .to different peripheral; V

distance beyond saidc'rest; and means for pressing said upper pane downwardly towardsaid l an end wall to provide a space in which.is disspace, and in which said crest comprises a bent portion of said sheet material in contact with portionsof one of said-panes, each spacing-member providing a spacing portionextending across said inter-pane space and having a vcrest facing theother of said-panes; and a resilient sealing Vmemberv positioned by said spacingmembers near-1,30

the peripheral zone of .said inter-pane spaceand extending around, the periphery thereof, Asaid sealing member beingof aninitial height greater than said spacing portion and beingv compressible to bring into engagement said crest. and vsaid engaging the peripheral edge `of .said one pane, saidspacing portion beine*v spaced inwardly Afrom iI su chperipheral edge, saidresilient sealing means comprising a resilient sealing member dispos ed whcheach clip portion comprises a.U-shapecl,g V

other pane when said panes are forced toward each other to compress said sealing member and seal theinter-pane space. l

2, A combination as .dei-ined in .claim..1,.in

portion providing a pair of side walls spacediby posed anedge portion of said one pane with said end wall lying along the end face of such edge Yportion and with said side walls lying along the25 it is attached, and in which adjacent spacingjgg()A members provide adjoining ends in a corner zone of the inter-pane space.

4. A combination as .dened in claim 1, in which each spacing portion is formed `of thin substantially flat sheet material extending mbH-35' stantially transversely across the. inter-pane which said spacing members andV said sealing member respectively provide contacting surfaces,

and in which at least one of said. contacting surfaces carries an adhesive adheringsaid contacting surfaces to each other. v

7. A combinationas defined in claim 1, Yin which said resilient sealing member comprises za single member formed of resilient material and of a length extending completely around the peripheryv of said inter-pane space, said single termediate the ends of a spacing member.

8. A combination as defined in claim: 1, in which said spacing portions extend from one pane toward the other at positions respectively spaced inwardly from the peripheral; edges of said one pane, and in which said resilient sealing member isdisposed inthe space between such peripheral edges and such spacing portions in contact withthe latter.

9. In combination in an apparatus formount- 565 ing upper and lower panes of glass in spaced relationship to provide a sealed inter-pane'space: a plurality of lower supporting Vmembers supporting the lower of saidpanes; a relatively rigid spacing means including detachable means for securing same to one of said panes and including a relatively rigid spacing portion extending from a surface of said one pane toward a surface of the other pane, said spacing .portion providing a crest facing..saidfsurfacev of said 75 other pane; a resilient sealing means extending d-z-.eempIetelv around .said inter-pane .space neer the periphery .thereof and. adjacent -Sad Spacin gmeans, saidsealing means-being ofgsuflicent height whenuncompressed to extend@ slight lower pane to compress said sealing means; .until said crest engages said other, pane, said vlastnamed means including means forholding said panes with said crest engaging said otherpane yand with said lower pane supported by said'sup- .porting members.

1 0. A combination as deflnedfin claimfS; in which said detachable means includes clip means in thespace between, s ueh peripheral-edge `and said spacing portion.. w.

which saiddetachable .means includes clipportions `respectively engaging peripheral edges of vsaid one pane, and in which'each spacing portion isl disposed inwardly from its respective ,peripheral edge of said one pane to provide a sealing space adjacent such peripheral-edge. .and

outside said spacing portions, said resilient :sealing means comprising a resilientsealing member ldisposed in said -sealing space and-providing ends abutting ata point intermediate the ends of one of said yspacing portions. Y

12. In combination in an apparatus formounting a pair of panes of glass in spaced relationship to provide a sealed inter-pane space :z agplu- Vyrality of spacing members correspondingin number to the peripheral edges of one vof Asaid panes,

each spacing member beingof .a length. slightly lessthan the corresponding peripheral edge, each spacing member providing clip means for clipping same to the-correspondingperipheral edgev .of ysaid one pane, the ends of adjacent spacing A members lying in: adjoining positions when;se .cured in place by said clip means, there .being a corner zone adjacent eachcornerpf said pane adjacent theadjoining ends of the corresponding spacing members; a resilient sealing member of an uncompressed height greaterthan the v height of said spacing membersjand wrapped in contact therewith and extending varcuately through said corneraones, said sealing member providingendsabutting at a point intermediate .the ends of one of said spacing members; ,and member providing ends abutting at a point inmeans for holding'said panes in compressingrela- '.tionship with said resilientsealing member to compress said sealing member between saidpanes while said panes are spaced byl said spacing members. l.

13. In combination in an apparatus for mounting a pair of panes of glass'in spaced relationship to providea sealedinter-pane space: apair ,rigid spacing members respectively including means" for mounting sameto extend from said one panetoward the othervat positionsrespectively .inside said opposed peripheral portions and respectively substantially opposite said lower abutments; aresilient sealing member Wrapped in contact with said lspacing members andextending peripherally around said inter-pane space, the height of said sealing member being normally greater than the height of said spacing members and said sealing member being compressible to permit contact between said sealing members and said other pane; and clamping means extending between said upper abutment and said other pane for forcing said other pane toward said one pane to compressy said resilient sealing member and peripherally seal said inter-pane space. A

14. A combination as deilned in claim 13, including additional spacing members extending between said panes in` a direction transversely between said glazing bars, al1 of the spacing members providing crests engaged by said other pane to position and rigidify same when said clamping means forces said other pane into contact with such crests and' in compressing relationship with said resilient sealing member.

15. In combination in an apparatus for mounting upper and lower panes of glass in spaced relationship to provide a sealed inter-pane space: a plurality of lower supporting members supporting the lower of said panes; a relatively rigid spacing means including a plurality of spacing members and detachable means for securing same to one of said panes, said detachable means including clip portions respectively carried by said spacing members and engaging vrespective peripheral edges of said one pane. Veach spacing member providing a spacing portion extending from a surface of said one pane toward a surface of the other pane to traverse said inter-pane space, each spacing portion having a crest facing said surface of said other pane, each spacing portion being disposed inwardly from its respective peripheral edge of said one pane to provide a sealing space adjacent such peripheral edge and outside said spacing portions; a resilient sealing means comprising a resilient sealing member disposed in said sealing space and extending completely around said inter-pane space, said sealing means being of suilicient height when uncompressed to extend a slight distance beyond said crests; another resilient sealing member disposed immediately inside said spacing portions in contact therewith and positioned thereby, said other resilient sealing member peripherally bounding said inter-pane space; and means for pressing said upper pane downwardly toward said lower pane to compress said sealing means until said crests engage said other pane, said last-named means including means for holding said panes 10 with said crests engaging said other pane and with said lower pane supported by said supporting members. v

16. A combination as defined in claim 9 in which said detachable means of said spacing means includes a U-'shaped clipcmeans providing upper and lower side walls spaced by an end ywall to provide a space receiving the peripheral edge of said one pane and `with said end wall lying along the end face of said one pane and with said upper and lower side walls extending respectively along thel upper and lower faces of said one pane near the periphery thereof, said spacing portion extending from the upper side wall toward said other pane, said lower side wall extending along said lower face of said one pane to a position between the corresponding supporting member and said lower face of said one pane of glass.

17. In combination in an apparatus for mounting a pair of panes of glass in spaced relationship to provide a sealed inter-pane space: a plurality of spacing members attached to different peripheral edges of one of said panes, each spacing member providing a spacing portion traversing said inter-pane space at a position a short distance inside its respective peripheral edge to provide a sealing space adjacent said peripheral edge and outside said spacing portions, each spacing portion having a crest facing the other of said panes; a resilient sealing member wrapped around said spacing portions and lying in said sealing space; a second resilient sealing member disposed immediately inside said spacing portions in contact therewith and positioned thereby, said second resilient sealing member peripherally bounding said inter-pane space, each of said ,sealing members being of an initial height greater than said spacing portions and being compressible to bring into engagement said crests and said other pane when said panes are forced toward each other to compress said sealing members and seal the interpane space.

J. ROYDEN ESTEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,000,413 Kane Aug. 15, 1911 1,129,839 Baldwin Mar. 2, 1915 2,178,507 Williams Oct. 31, 1939 

